Nearing a year of Rock NYC and I think the biggest surprise I’ve had is how great the Public Relations people are. As a rock journalist you don’t really know em too well. A legend like CBS’ Gail Sparrow or a scenester like Chrysalis’ Rhonda Shore maybe, but rule of thumb not so much.
But as an editor, me and Helen work with PR people all day long and I am pleasantly surprised at how buttoned down and kind they are.
Speaking with Inge Colson of Press Here at the Harper Blynn concert last night, she had plussed one me, I wondered why she would extend so much kindess towards me? For publicity, of course, but is it really worth the effort? Plus, she never knows which way we’re gonna jump. My Harper Blynn review while hardly a dismiss wasn’t a rave either.
Rock Ridge send us album after album, Mike reviews em and trashes em, and on we go. Honestly, if somebody sends us freebies and gets negative reviews, the PR Person could well cut us off. We’re twinkies in the storm .
A coupla days before the sold out Take Action gig at Highline I asked Helen Bach to ask em to guest list me. How kind of them to do so.
Versa Manos got us Everclear. Neither LA’s Gorgeous PR nor Art needs Rock NYC. It was an act of generosity and faith that we hope to repay many, many times.
It is tough and expensive having to pay for everything when you run a music blog (i mean a serious one) and Public Relations people has helped us struggle thru. That’s one of those intangibles you get from this.
Thanks to all.